Hunting, so what? (Closed)

Days like this, Sedge hated the sun. He glared at the brightly lit snow, eyes half-lidded in an attempt to shield himself from it as he lapped at the snow to dull the taste of mousebile on his tongue. The fresh-kill pile was pathetically low, and here he was tending to elders. He sneered at the thought, his green eyes narrowed in the direction of the elders den. It was all well and good for them to sit around all day, but he was hungry. He turned to look for Rippedsky, but he didn't see his mentor anywhere. Good.

Sedgepaw was tired of that fussy old deputy trying to make him do things he didn't want to. He licked his lips at the thought of mouse, or bird... even a frog sounded good. Far better than the mouse bile taste that still lingered on his tongue. Even though Rippedsky had said it was an apprentice's duty, it felt like a complete waste of time and energy. He lifted his head and looked around the clearing a second time until he spotted Amberpaw, a cocky smile on his muzzle as he padded towards the calico she-cat.

"Hey Amberpaw, you're going to come hunting with me!" He declared. He didn't care if the other apprentices or warriors saw or heard him. None of the ones in camp actually mattered. He gestured towards the entrance. "I'm tired of dealing with that disgusting bile. I say let the Medicine cats care for the elders." Sedgepaw padded a couple steps away, then turned to look back at her with a confident tilt to his head. "Let's make that fresh-kill pile more full than it's been in moons!"

Amberpaw was in the middle of cleaning her toes, her orange and white paws spread as she turned to face the tom with her tongue in a small 'blep' rolling blue-green eyes she shook out her foot. "Sure, I guess." She meowed simply, her grooming session would just have to wait. 'You know Rippedsky is probably going to confine you to camp after this right? And give you a looong lecture on elder care, right?" She huffed, following Sedgepaw with a stiffness that could only come from the cold. Puffing out her multi-coloured fur she made sure to keep her strides even with Sedgepaws.

"If we do that but that'd mean running the forest dry." She huffed, bounding ahead of the tom, a sneer on her face as she flicked her tail. "None-the-less let us get huntin'! I bet I can get waaaay more prey than you!" She meowed, stretching out her whole body, her paws shaking out to warm herself up and get ready for winning the competition.

Sedgepaw sniffed derisively at Rippedsky's name. He strode towards the camp entrance with confidence that no cat would stop him. When no cat did, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
"He's given me that boring old talk before. 'The elders earned it.'" He mocked and rolled his eyes. "Please. They're not helping now just sitting there while we help with every itch." He stopped abruptly when she bounded ahead of him, her words sent a competitive spark in his chest as he bounded forward.

"Pff. As if! Future best warrior of Skyclan here!" He mewed back confidently as he strode forward towards the bushes. He lowered his nose to the ground, then smirked as he picked up the scent of a squirrel not too far from them. Slowly, he crept towards the thick base of a large tree. His ears picked up the soft sounds of a nut cracking beneath tiny sharp teeth. Perfect. His tail twitched in anticipation as he crouched down, snow crunched slightly under his paws startling the squirrel, but it was too late. He sprang forward with confidence as it tried to climb up and away. His teeth sank into it's back, the cringing noise it made silenced by a merciful kill bite. "Tch. You see that? Easy as breathing." He bragged as he picked up his prize.

The member 'Caysuna' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

"I mean, they're not dead. Imagine, we live in a world where everything is out to kill us! Adders... illness... twolegs... pretty much everything! It's like, a 1 in 500 chance that they're still kicking." Amberpaw meowed, she honestly did not get the toms disrespect for elders, it was just something that every cat had and Sedgepaw seemed to lack. She watched Sedgepaw stalk the squirrel almost professionally, while nearly breaking out into a cackle as the squirrel got spooked. When he did manage to catch the squirrel she was shocked, but quickly wiped the expression from her face.

Sticking out her snoot she snorted, standing tall. "I can do better." She huffed, trotting forwards a few steps before sticking her nose into the snow, her belly roiling with nervousness. Hawkstrike had been a neglectful mentor, so she had to learn through other cats training sessions. Time to put it to good use. Her small reddish-black nose twitched as she picked up the scent of... what was it? Rabbit? It was a rabbit! Claws unsheathed as the she-cat crawled forwards, searching wildly for the rabbit. It took a while but she spotted it, a snow-white pelt nibbling on clovers freed from the snow.

Holding in the air with bated breath she waggled her hindquarters and launched forwards. But with no such luck, her back legs skidded out from under her and she went falling into the soft powder face first. Her legs splayed out as she just laid there in her defeat, she didn't want to get up and face the inevitable humiliation that she was bound to meet. Sighing heavily the she-cat pushed her paws under her, the snow clumping her fur and falling from her whiskers. Looking down at her orange paws with disappointment, she shuffled to her paws quickly and turned to face Sedgepaw.

"It was just a fluke! I can still totally do way better than you." She huffed, trying to compensate for ruined pride.

The member 'Grey' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

"...I suppose." Sedgepaw grumbled, his ears flat at the she-cats words. He couldn't imagine being an elder, being so incapable of doing things that he had to lean on younger cats to do it. He pushed back the darker thoughts and buried his squirrel at the base of the tree. When he stood he sat and watched as she boasted and began to track her prey. A confident smirk on his muzzle that he couldn't possibly outdo him. When she lurched forwards into the snow he laughed. The rabbit bounced away to the safety of the bushes while Sedgepaw padded over to Amberpaw with an arrogant glint in his eyes. He was about to say I told you I was better. but the words died on his tongue. Had they been hunting only a couple weeks ago, he wouldn't have stopped laughing and kept on. Now? He felt an uncomfortable feeling in his chest.

"Pff. Whatever. Did you see how skinny that rabbit was? It'll be crowfood before moonhigh anyways." He declared as he stepped around Amberpaw. Intent on driving out that same feeling, refusing to acknowledge that it was guilt trying to rear its ugly head into his fun. "Maybe we should have brought Tinylegs. He's almost small enough to pretend to be a rabbit!" He chuckled at the idea as he shook his head. "That's if he could see a rabbit in all of this!" He turned to Amberpaw with a confident expression. "Watch and learn." Sedgepaw turned to follow a small break in the bushes, weaving through them confidently with his dark tabby spots acting as almost camouflage against the backdrop of snow as he crept forward slowly towards the top of a rocky outcrop. He could hear the slight scratching of a bird against the stone and flattened himself to the ground. Barely out of view. He edged closer until he could see the barest hint of a feather while a robin attempted to peck at something on the cold ground.His tail twitched as he readied to strike, then leapt over the rocks.

Immediately, he regretted his choice of hunting when he saw a huge black and white shape on the other side. A yowl escaped his throat as he landed squarely on the badger's back. The huge creature snarled and turned sharply, Sedgepaw loosing his grip and being completely unprepared for this attack as he landed safely a couple tail lengths away. He stared at the creature, his pelt pricked as he growled at the beast defensively. Though he'd been caught off-guard, his fear slowly subsided and he was ready to face this foe.

A WILD BADGER APPEARED. DARN IT SEDGEPAW!

The member 'Caysuna' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Amberpaw was relieved to notice that the tom did not continue laughing at her, and immediately relaxed, already sniffing the air for her next victim. The young apprentice listened to the tom as he blabbered on, insulting her father, Tinylegs. Puffing up she huffed, "Don't make fun of my dad too much, it's funny the first time but it's just rude after!" She spat, her ears pricking at a noise, but it appeared that Sedgepaw had caught wind of something and was already tracking it.

But as Sedgepaw leaped, Amberpaw's eyes bulged practically out of her head, everything stiffening as she stared at the massive, frightening form of the badger ahead of her. Fear-scent flooded the area from the drastically under-prepared apprentice, her limbs shuddering as she looked at it. Oh, dear Starclan, it was huge- it was massive and it was angry! There was no way two apprentices could fight a badger! Every single hair on Amberpaws body was fluffed out, her teeth bared as she stood in fear.

What should she do? What could she do? She didn't have any battle training, Hawkstrike being too busy with Mumblepaw and his own warrior duties to worry about her. "S-Sedgepaw.. w-we should get out of here. Th-there's no way we can take on a badger!" She sputtered. She just wanted to go back to camp, where it was safe, where she could snuggle with her father and mother and forget about the worries and dangers outside. Amberpaw shakily padded up next to her partner, nudging at his shoulder. "We gotta go, w-we gotta run. We won't make it out alive." She sputtered hopelessly.

Sedgepaw glanced towards Amberpaw, then back to the badger with his teeth bared.
"So we'll jeopardise the whole camp!?" He growled, the image came to his mind all too clearly. The giant badger shoving its way into camp and leaving destruction. His claws scraped against the stones of the outcrop with a fierce hiss. His ears flat with determination as he didn't dare turn his back on this enemy. "You can run if you want, but I'm not going to!" He declared, then lunged his small body up against the large beast. The stench of it made his stomach churn.

He wondered how he had missed it. He should have been more careful, but he shoved the regret back as he scrabbled onto it's back and attempted to get a good hold of its fur, but he kept slipping. He could feel the beast growling under his paws. Terror for himself and for the other apprentice hammered in his chest, but he refused to let that show. He was Sedgepaw, he was the best. If he had to take down the badger to prove that, then he would. He flung himself at it again, the ice on its pelt made it difficult for his claws to grab and he was forced to watch as it lumbered towards Amberpaw and pulled back a massive paw, only to smack it across the she-cat's face.

As he watched the blow in horror, Sedgepaw yowled and lunged once more. His claws stuck this time on the beast's back as loose skin caught on his claws enough for him to secure a hold and begin raking his claws over its massive hide. The badger reared up and began to shake in its attempt to dislodge the prickly apprentice as he clung on for all he was worth. He couldn't let it go after Amberpaw, who looked frighteningly like she was dead at the moment. Dread stuck in his throat, he desperately hoped she wasn't... Rippedsky was going to have his hide.

Badger used Heavy Blow on Amberpaw. Sedgepaw used Leap-and-Hold on the Badger.

Badger
114/120 HP (-6)
300/320 SP (-20)

Amberpaw
-5/20 HP (-25)
80/80 SP

Sedgepaw
20/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

The member 'Caysuna' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 6

All the patrols were set for the day. The black and white tom let out a sigh of relief. He was set for the evening border patrol but currently was free. Night patrols had increasingly become his usual given the time he had set aside for training. Sedgepaw made that difficult, however. Rippedsky wasn't able to train with the young tom as much as he had hoped. After several incidents with the apprentice being blatantly disrespectful and disobedient, it had taken a while for him to devise a plan on how to handle it. Thoughts of his apprentice drove him to pad over to their den and poke his head in. No sign of Sedgepaw. There was a strange feeling in his stomach as he began to have an idea as to what happened. A quick question to one of the warriors who had been around confirmed it. Sedgepaw had left camp. This time, with Amberpaw.

Again. This had happened again. After their previous training session, regardless of how it had begun, the tom had thought his apprentice had maybe learned a thing or two. However, it was the same scenario happening all over again. A low growl rumbled in his chest. The deputy raced from the camp. His nose raised in the air with his jaw slightly parted to intake the apprentices' scent. Once he picked up on it, he did not stop. Rippedsky did not even bother with the trees. As much as he did love leaping from branch to branch, it was quicker for him on the ground, even if just by a bit. In the distance, he finally saw something against the white snow and picked up speed. But, as Rippedsky got closer, his blue eyes widened. Badger!

Amberpaw lay on the ground and the feeling in his stomach turned sour. Sedgepaw clawed at their attacker. Immediately the deputy sprang into action, literally. A furious yowl left his maw. He used his legs to leap onto its back and dig in. At the same time, his jaws snapped at its scruff and ears. His claws scored deep, grabbing a hold of the tough skin. This creature would not be allowed to hurt his clan. Whatever Sedgepaw did could be handled later, for now, he needed to save the mousebrained apprentice.

Rippedsky used leap and hold on the badger, dealing 14 damage and using 10 stamina. He attacks with the fury of the gods to tear the beast apart. Badger is held for 2 turns!

Rippedsky
100/100
270/280

Badger
114/120
300/320

Amberpaw
-5/20
80/80

Sedgepaw
20/20
70/80

The member 'Grandaddy Ripped' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 5

At first, Sedgepaw felt tremendous relief at the angry battlecry. His grip tightened on the badger's thick pelt as it swung around underneath his claws while he raked at it's fur. His claws hooked in and leaving small but bleeding wounds on it's back. At least until he suddenly had company on the Badger's back and he saw who it was. His stomach sank as he watched Rippedsky shred into the beast as it shrieked and jostled. His ears flattened and had they not been on the dangerous beast, he probably would have looked sheepish at being caught again.

Unfortunately they were on a huge beast. The badger tried to twist and turn, but the additional weight sent it down onto the stony floor with a snarl. He wasted no time in lashing out with his forepaws again. Chunks of fur fell off it's back with the fury of the two cats assault on it. The beast's focus solely on them now instead of the injured she-cat only a few tail lengths away.


Sedgepaw used Front-paw Strike on the Badger. It is still pinned for 1 more turn

Badger
94/120 HP (-6)
300/320 SP

Sedgepaw
20/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Rippedsky
100/100 HP
270/280 SP

Amberpaw
-5/20 HP
80/80 SP

The black and white deputy did not let up his relentless attacks. The lives of apprentices were at stake here. Nothing else mattered, the risk of his own life did not matter. This beast needed to be taken down before it made its way to the rest of the clan or injured anyone else. His claws tore through the tough skin and fur, sinking deeper with each blow. He only paused for a second to maintain his balance as it toppled over. Scoring its neck and shoulders for one more brief second, he made sure to throw all of his power behind each blow. This had to be thought out. A combination of using his speed and strength to the maximum to maybe hold the monster off bay a little bit.

"Get back!" He ordered Sedgepaw, without stopping his onslaught of clawing and tearing away. Rippedsky leaped to the side as it began to regain footing. Before it could attack again, he darted forwards to strike another blow. While there was an immense power behind the swing of its paws, the black and white creature could never outmatch his speed. His eyes only flicked away to meet the apprentices, "I'm not going to let you get hurt too!" There was a bit of a snarl in the back of his throat, trying to express the severity of the situation to his apprentice. Sedgepaw was known not to listen to him, and this was the wrong time to do that.

Rippedsky used leap and hold on the badger, dealing 14 damage and using 10 stamina.
Rippedsky ALSO used swift strike on the badger, dealing 7 damage and using 10 stamina. Frick yes Windclan moves. Badger is no longer stunned.

Badger
73/120 HP
300/320 SP

Sedgepaw
20/20 HP
60/80 SP

Rippedsky
100/100 HP
250/280 SP

Amberpaw
-5/20 HP
80/80 SP